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Episode 169	Shadow Play (Part 2)	Aired: October 28 2017
At the site of Ponehenge, where the Pony of Shadows gloats, Star Swirl is unable to use his magic and urges Twilight and the others to return the six of them back to Limbo. Unfortunately, Twilight never figured out how to return them and while Sunburst flips through the book for a possible solution, the Pony of Shadows takes aim at the pillers and shatters them along with the book itself. Star Swirl figured Twilight had another plan considering all her studies but she does not so the Pony of Shadows attacks Star Swirl. Twilight intercepts and makes the battle a draw, leaving the Pony of Shadows surprised at how powerful Twilight is. Nevertheless, he still considers himself more successful and takes another shot at Twilight, whom fights back but isn't enough so Starlight joins in. It's enough to fight back and win the battle of magic. Star Swirl isn't giving up yet and has faith in his new companions that they'll return to Limbo somehow. The Pony of Shadows is intent on making his dream a reality and departs, vowing that they will be defeated. Now they must figure out where the Pony of Shadows went and it's proof to Star Swirl that his spell was successful but puts Twilight to shame for her actions and she walks away. However, Pinkie Pie notes their past victories to save Equestria and gets additional support from those with Star Swirl. Star Swirl isn't so convinced but knows they have much ground to cover if they want to find the Pony of Shadows. They'll need a map and Rarity has just the one in mind. The group returns to Twilight's castle where Star Swirl feels like he's seen the magic before. In fact, he uses his magic to show the Tree of Harmony and Twilight is the only one unsurprised by Star Swirl's abilities. Further surprises come when the ancient ponies reveal that they planted the seeds that later made the castle and the Tree of Harmony. Pinkie Pie shows the current Elements of Harmony but quickly learns that those elements reflect the ancient ponies' elements. Now that they have the Tree of Harmony, Star Swirl suggests they use its magic to send the Pony of Shadows back to Limbo, which doesn't sit well with the others as that means sacrificing the Elements of Harmony. However, Star Swirl notes that the Pony of Shadows would otherwise prevent Equestria from existing at all so Twilight will need a better idea. Everyone is on board with Star Swirl's plan, except for Twilight, whom walks sadly away. Feeling bad for Twilight, Starlight goes to see her and finds her stockpiled with books to find a solution. Luckily, Twilight finds a book among the latest stack Spike brings down and now has a way to keep the pillars but still sacrifice the Elements of Harmony. Twilight embarks on a mission to make the spell better so that perhaps Star Swirl will see that she cares just as much about magic as he does. Meanwhile, the others aren't having better luck finding the Pony of Shadows as their destinations have proven to be much less likely candidates. The ponies meet back at Twilight's castle to share their findings with Star Swirl but Twilight comes in with her mostly finished spell and her theory of how to banish the Pony of Shadows only. Unfortunately, Star Swirl shows no interest in reading the spell at all, considering it half-baked. Applejack and the others stick up for Twilight, noting that Twilight got her wings for finishing one of Star Swirl's very own spells. Even the ancient ponies have a look and get Star Swirl to as well. Star Swirl considers the spell with a chance to work. Still, they need to find out where the Pony of Shadows is hiding and the map provides a possible answer that leaves Applejack recalling a piece of her family residing there. Sunburst finds the statement odd considering the  area was abandoned years ago. However, Starlight doesn't approve of Rainbow Dash's statement. Twilight finally gets praise from her idol and Starlight has a better idea that is quickly denied. With that, Star Swirl and others move into another room to refine the spell. Left alone, Starlight and Spike chat until Starlight gets an idea. The others are hard at work polishing and sharpening the ancient relics when Starlight comes in to ask about the events leading up to the Pony of Shadows. As the sirens fly overhead (yes the sirens from Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks), they use their abilities to turn the residents into vandals, trashing everything in sight.  Another pony revealed as Stigien joins the fight with the ancient ponies but doesn't get any action as the sirens are teleported away through a portal. Later, Stigien returns with a vengeance after being kicked out for attempting to use the relics for a spell at Ponehenge. Thus, it led to the events they now saw. All the ancient ponies can figure, Stigien stole the relics to have the powers for himself. With that, Starlight returns to where Star Swirl and Twilight reside. The work is proving to be quite daunting to Starlight but Star Swirl wishes they not be disturbed. Regardless, Starlight continues her pursuit to find out more about Stigien but gets pretty much the same answer from Star Swirl as the others gave her. Starlight is lucky Star Swirl never saw her reformation or she'd have been banished to Limbo as well and walks out in frustration. At last, they arrive at the tree of Harmony with the new plan Twilight has and set it in motion, bringing the current Elements of Harmony out of the tree and back into the necklaces of the Mane Six. Since the others have no clue how to work the Elements, Star Swirl notes they must work in pairs. With the pairs having already been matched up, they set off, leaving Starlight and Spike to hope for the best. They arrive at the Hallow Shades, only to find it's nothing like Sunburst read about and realize the Pony of Shadows morphed it himself. They arrive at a well and are taken down below where the Pony of Shadows makes himself known once more. The ponies get a magic bubble to surround them while the Pony of Shadows begins explaining his past.  Not getting the response he wants, the Pony of Shadows shatters the bubble, prompting the group to open the portal using old and new Elements of Harmony. They get the Pony of Shadow nearly inside but Stigien reveals his true self and Twilight heads inside in hopes of talking him out of it and learning more. Once inside, she learns a much more kindhearted story as Stigien never wanted to steal the magic for himself, he wanted to make copies of the relics after having learned all about the beasts they faced previously. Star Swirl and the others find this new information surprising. Twilgiht tries to assure it's a big misunderstanding and is ready to help but Stigien isn't convinced Twilight can do any better than his friends had in the past. Starlight enters to support Twilight but Stigien refuses to believe her either so she snares him with her magic and intends to pull him out. A struggle ensues so Starlight joins in but even she isn't enough. Twilight relays the info to the ancient ponies and all others agree to help, finally pulling Stigien out of the darkness and sending the darkness through the portal. Twilight closes the portal and the ponies rejoice but Rarity notes that the Elements of Harmony are still with them. All Fluttershy can figure is that they used the elements to heal instead of banish but their attention is drawn to the reunion of Star Swirl and Stigien, which goes much better. In fact, Star Swirl not only apologizes to Stigien but commends Twilight for the help she and her friends provided. Twilight is so touched by this compliment that she botches up his name before Starlight reminds Star Swirl politely that she was right the whole time. Star Swirl will have plenty of apologies to make and the group returns to Canterlot Castle where Celestia and Luna hope he'll begin teaching them again just as he did before. Instead, Star Swirl decides to look around for a while before deciding on a home. In fact, they all want to see what's become of their home but Celestia and Luna hope for Star Swirl to return to them now and then for wisdom but they don't need to look further than their own pupil. Star Swirl has already learned much from Twilight about friendship and brings Twilight to tears as he shares what he's learned from her. While the othes hug, Twilight was also reminded what she forgot thanks to Starlight and the two of them hug as well.